The Race
A Record Year
On Saturday I ran the Redemption Run 5k at my church. I’ve written about it a couple of times this year. I’ve run this race almost every year. There were a few years I was unable to run it.
The day after the race I am feeling the muscle soreness of not training as hard as I should have for this race. Unfortunately, a month before the race I hurt my back. It was a muscle strain, but one I had not planned on. I thought that the week of spring break I would be able to start running out doors and get more 3 mile runs in instead of training indoors. It didn’t happen. After three weeks of healing and re-injuring my back, I thought that I could at least walk it. I started doing more strength workouts and last week decided I was going to attempt to run as much of the race as possible. I walked a little bit of it, but ran most of the course. It is a grueling course!
This was also the first year I didn’t have anyone to run or walk with. I usually run with my dad, sister or a friend. I knew I was going to be on my own and that was okay. That gave me the opportunity to watch others around me and also focus on the fact that I had to run my own race. I am not an ultra competitive person. However, given the right circumstances and I will do everything I can to compete and win. With running I am competitive. I am the most competitive with a previous time, or as it is known in the running world, personal record. I always want to beat that time. I am also competitive with those around me. I want to make sure I keep passing people. This race I had to temper the competitiveness. :)
I had to remember that I could not push myself as much as I would have liked due to not training and having a back injury so close to the race. With each mile I was reminded of how our lives and faith are a lot like running a race. That of course, had me thinking about scripture around running our races. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,…”
One of the things I love about the Redemption Run 5k is that along the race route there are people on the sidelines cheering on the runners. I don’t know if those who are cheering truly understand how much that actually helps the runners. As a believer, I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, cheering me on in this “race.” It is comforting to know that I have heavenly cheerleaders, as well as, earthly cheerleaders!
This year the race set some records. We had more runners than previous years and raised over $200,000! I am grateful to be a small part of this event each year. I personally know how the money is being used to rescue and redeem those who have been trafficked and bound up in addiction.
I am grateful for this small community of witnesses cheering me on!